General So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goo . . . or maybe not!

[BikeDoc]

Was hoping to get our Multipla to 200,000 miles, but it's had other ideas!
Popped it's mechanical clogs yesterday at 184,496, so close!
Not bad I guess, we've put an average of 20,000 a year on it since we got it in 09, only paid £2500 for it.
On the lookout for another one now, in over 35 years of driving, it's the only car I've had and wanted the same again when it died . . . except for the VW Campers we had

As long as I can find a half-decent one in the next few days . . .


I know it inside-out pretty much, and there's plenty of new/recent bits (ain't that always the way ) on it that I can salvage for spares before scrapping.

On the lookout for another then, got my eye on a couple already . . .

 

[widemouthfrog]

RIP, Multipla . Btw, did you get the rear wing damage repaired? It looked pretty nasty in the photos.

As for the replacement; round or square nose?

 

[BikeDoc]

Didn't do anything with the wing, it's only a little deformed.
Just stuck another door on, almost the same colour as well

Don't want to go to the facelift version, don't like the look of them
Also don't like the extra electronic/mechanical gubbins they have, there's too much of it for my liking on the early ones as it is :bang:

Looking at another '02 ELX, 86,000 miles for £985
One owner from new, Fiat service history, looks really clean, already changed my insurance . . . only snag is someone's going to see it before me, so it's not looking too promising

 

[BikeDoc]

What's really annoying though, is I rang my Brother-in-Law earlier to see if he could give me a lift up there, only to find out he was on his way to within three miles of the place already . . . I was going to ring much earlier, but didn't as I didn't think he'd be up so early :bang:

 

[widemouthfrog]

Get your B-in-L to gategrash! Can he view by proxy for you?

 

[BikeDoc]

Spoke too soon, as I often do . . . seller just rang to say the other guy can't make it today

Watch this space . . .

 

[BikeDoc]

Hi, hello, hallo!

And . . . it's mine

Can't believe how clean it is inside and out!

Only thing that may need doing soon is the Trailing-Arm Bearings, left side is leaning ever-so-slightly, I'll not leave it as long as last time
Front and rear subframes are a bit rusty, but will clean up OK.

Going to be swapping the wheels from the old one over to it, so if anyone wants a proper spare wheel and tyre to replace their poxy space-saver, and can get here in the next week or so to swap over . . . for a small fee
I'm between Slough and Beaconsfield on the A355.
Pm me if interested, or in any other bits.
I'll be keeping some myself, I put a new starter motor on it last week, and the Alternator's not that old, anyway, just ask.

I'd rather send it to the scrappy with four useless space-savers on it

 

[widemouthfrog]

Re: Hi, hello, hallo!

Result! Be sure to post some piccies of the new toy.

Is the old one an ELX?

 

[BikeDoc]

Hello!

Yep, same model, but this one doesn't have colour-coded bumpers.
It does however have remote central locking and an alarm/immobiliser, which the old one didn't.

I posted a link to the AutoTrader ad, but he's removed it already, not sure if I can drag some 'archived' pics from somewhere.
If not I'll try and take some later.

Edit; Here you go . . .

 

[BikeDoc]

Hello!

Those bl*%@y driver's mirrors, why do they all go like that?

 

[widemouthfrog]

Re: Hello!

Nice to see you're keeping the faith with a roundnose . They are the Real Thing after all. The interior especially looks very tidy. Not too sure about the grey bumpers, but they certainly have some practical advantages. And yes - my mirrors are the same and I've repainted them once already! Going to try shot blast & powder coat in the summer, but will need to figure out how to completely dismantle them.

As for your old one - I'm after a pair of headlamp washer jets out of the bumper and (if it's a blue interior) the cloth-covered dash panel in front of the driver. Mine's got the later pattern alloys, otherwise I'd have been interested in one of those as well. Oh, and the little grey plastic cover in the front bumper that goes over the towing eye socket!

Other bits to salvage if they're in good working order:
Headlamp units (if the white adjuster knobs are still present)
Rear seat outer hinge cover mouldings
Door check straps
Boot lock release (the bit with the microswitch in it)
Drivers seat height adjust mech including motor
Fan speed resistor
Throttle potentiometer
Seat back table mouldings

 

[BikeDoc]

Re: Hello!

Edited with answers . . .

. . . but will need to figure out how to completely dismantle them.

Will take plenty of pics when I remove my old ones for spares.

Headlamp washer jets out of the bumper They're good.

(If it's a blue interior) the cloth-covered dash panel in front of the driver. You mean the main section that goes all the way across?

Mine's got the later pattern alloys. The straight spoke ones?

Got a couple of those spare already from when I fitted the Coupé wheels.
I kept one in the car as a spare, but I can use one of the 'new' ones.

The little grey plastic cover in the front bumper. Think that's still there.


Headlamp units (if the white adjuster knobs are still present).
Noticed the other day that they both have a crack across the lens, almost identical in shape, most bizarre. Not sure if they'd go through an MOT or not. NS one has a missing adjuster wheel/knob, but still works with pliers.

Rear seat outer hinge cover mouldings. I know one is knackered, middle left, I tried to bond it but it broke again. I'll have a look later today, the left seat's been sitting in my Workshop for months.

Door check straps. Should be OK.

Boot lock release (the bit with the microswitch in it). Knackered years ago, got used to using the key from outside.

Drivers seat height adjust mech including motor. All good.
Fan speed resistor. Works, I presume you know how to reach it?

Throttle potentiometer. Ditto.

Seat back table mouldings. All of them? A couple of the seat back mouldings are damaged, not sure on the tables, will check.

 

[BikeDoc]

Just re-read your original post . . .

Other bits to salvage if they're in good working order:

Are you after these, or were they just suggestions for useful parts to keep?

 

[boilermansab]

I'd be after a few bits if you are breaking her..

 

[slobo]

Congrats on the new to you Multi,

Is the bonnet in reasonable nick on your old one?

 

[widemouthfrog]

Just re-read your original post . . .

Are you after these, or were they just suggestions for useful parts to keep?

The list I made at the end was indeed just suggestions for bits that you could remove without the scrap man being bothered/noticing, that are also known Multipla 'weaknesses'.

That said, if either of the rear door check straps work with without the horrible creak , I'd be interested. One of mine has succumbed.

Dash panel - yes, the big one. It's actually two pieces - there's a split behind the instrument binnacle. Driver's side is the half I'm after. Can you post here/PM me a close-up photo so I can check that it's the right fabric?

Forgot to add the ashtray assembly to the list of bits to remove, as long as it still stays shut on its own. Another famous Multipla Achilles!

 

[BikeDoc]

I'd be after a few bits if you are breaking her..

Let me know what you're after.

. . . Is the bonnet in reasonable nick on your old one?

Good apart from the usual few stone-chips in the paint.

If either of the rear door check straps work with without the horrible creak , I'd be interested. One of mine has succumbed.
Both silent.

Plastic cover in the front bumper that goes over the towing eye socket.
Not there . . . it's on my kitchen table!
Little bit scuffed, but latch and retainer 'tail' intact.

It's actually two pieces - there's a split behind the instrument binnacle.




Forgot to add the ashtray assembly to the list of bits to remove, as long as it still stays shut on its own. It does, sort of, it's always stuffed with sweet wrappers/crisp packets! Could easily be remedied by dremmelling the detent slots a bit deeper I reckon.

Headlights.



I'll probably keep them as spares in case one of mine gets properly smashed, would keep it on the road while I got a replacement.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Thanks BD. That's the correct fabric (nice photo, too btw). So I'm in for the headlamp washers, the dash panel, a rear door strap & towing eye cover-thing. Now you just need to decide if you want to break the car.....

 

[BikeDoc]

See below . . .

 

[BikeDoc]

Oh I'm definitely breaking it (it was pretty broken already ).
I should be able to start on it later today hopefully, weather-permitting.

Which side door strap?

I'd better start making a list . . .